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ISLAND PARK EAGLE NEWS
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Island Park Elementary PTA
April 17, 2016
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Wrestling With Grades
I hardly ever write about my junior high experiences. Just thinking about those years brings back memories that are as awkward, conflicted and as uncomfortable as my metamorphosis from child to adolescent. I'm sure I wasn't more than 50 inches tall and maybe all of 75 pounds when I entered seventh grade, small in stature and equally diminutive in confidence. My seventh grade teacher did little to boost my self-assurance or growth, academically speaking. He was indolent and of the opinion that a one-size-fits-all instructional style was good enough for his diverse learners who, traipsing into teenage trauma, yearned for differentiation and individual recognition. He didn't take the time to get to know us-to listen to our aspirations, anxieties and evolving aesthetics.
He wasn't the only teacher who shirked his responsibility to individualize learning, acknowledge the uniqueness of each student or protect us from the bevy of bullies and agitators who were allowed to diminish and degrade defenseless kids like me.
My P.E. teacher belonged to that same society of staff. He evaluated results, not effort. He promoted stiff competition. He refused to address us by first name. "Hoffman-fifty pushups. Hoffman-twenty laps. Hoffman-pick up the pace." My small and slim stature suffered body slams during flag football, physically painful picks during basketball, and shin stinging slide-intos during softball.
My P.E. report card grade reflected my gym teacher's less-than robust effort to truly assess his students' physical fitness, effort or improvement. In all subject areas, we received a mark from 1 to 8-1 the equivalent of an A, an 8 mirroring an F minus. I only received an 8 once. Guess which subject?
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FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Dear families, staff and friends of Mercer Island Schools,
As spring begins later this week, I'd like to share a few important updates with you...
- Elementary Spanish-language program
- Change to Elementary start and dismissal times next year
- Later start for HS on Wednesdays next fall
- Levy renewal election
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Pathfinder Awards announced
- March 23 event with Dr Pedro Noguera
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Upcoming Events
Spring Break
April 11th - 15th
PTA General Meeting
April 28th
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 Recognise the volunteers and staff at Island Park!
Nominations due Fri April 29th
All awards are described on the nomination forms, which can be found pinned to the PTA bulletin board or downloaded here.
Please place completed forms in the manila folder on the PTA bulleting board or email them to jolajensen4@gmail.com.
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And The Winner of the Box Top Challenge is...
Ms Williams' Class! They will have a popcorn party and free recess! Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to collect all these box tops.
Here are the final results:
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Teacher
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Collected 3/17
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Collected 4/4
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Total Count!
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Williams
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490
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85
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575
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Wangen
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534
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38
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572
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John-Lewis
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438
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110
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548
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Carlson
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242
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302
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544
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Vetter
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302
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143
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445
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Lepp
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116
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313
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429
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Loeser
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29
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352
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381
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Rorem/Low
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160
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217
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377
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Sandstrom
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246
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113
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359
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Ney
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312
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40
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352
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Nelson
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264
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76
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340
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deStowlinksi
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211
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95
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306
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Bossie
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204
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79
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283
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McCann
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165
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90
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255
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Sadlier
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146
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90
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236
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Jarnigan
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190
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36
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226
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Moseley
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125
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99
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224
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Kerby
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155
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61
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216
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Brecha
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139
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35
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174
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Lee
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114
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45
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159
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Nielsen
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28
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122
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150
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Oliviera
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107
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40
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147
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Kitchen
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23
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49
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72
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Millison
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10
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62
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72
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The total number of Box Tops collected was 7442. This directly gives $744.20 to Island Park. Thank you everyone for your support.
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Musical Thanks
Congratulations to all the
First and Second Graders for their performances of "The Gunniwolf" and "The Cat and The Rat" with
special thanks to: Sandra Chow, Alex Schatz, Erin McGuire, Jola Jensen, Melissa Prock, Shelley Boyle, Andy Hamp, Bruce Dodge, Nate Krahn, Stacy Smedberg, Cornelius Williams, Thach Nguyen, Michael Lee, Kate Lepp, Beth Nielsen, Jan Vetter, Ashley Bossie, Kate Lepp, Samantha Moseley, Diana Low, Kelly Rorem, Shelley Wangen and the Island Park staff and parents for their continued support!
Congratulations to the Island Park Kindergarten and Third Graders for their Showcase performances with special thanks to: Crystal Taitague, Bruce Dodge, Tracy Richardson, and Kathy Morrison; Louise Alford, David Kern, Erin Sirianni, Sandra Schwarz, Sue Gundy, Amy Richter, Christina Riffle, John Oates, Ashleigh Dickinson, Hilary Doroski, Danielle Orr-Bement and her amazing bow tie makers; and our wonderful third grade teachers Meredith Carlson, Stephanie John-Lewis, Jacquie Ney, Tiffany Nelson, and Cheryl Sandstrom.
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Island Park Fundraising.
No Extra Spending. No Catches
Use this link when purchasing from Amazon and you'll raise money for Island Park with every purchase.
This is a new link, effective February 7th.
Set a bookmark today.
Cut these coupons on popular products and send them in to school for collation. Save them for competitions run throughout the year or just send them straight in. Either way you'll help raise money for Island Park.
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Learning Garden
Thanks to everyone who came to the Learning Garden last week.
We made great progress preparing the beds. We will be planting soon now that the weather is warming up so look for more work parties in the coming weeks.
We are looking for some one with composting experience to get our bins up and running. If you'd like to help out with the compost or get more involved please email shellylynnjohnson@gmail.com.
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Island Park Art Club 
Now registering for the Spring Session: April 19- June 16 on Tuesdays or Thursdays 3:30-5:00pm after school in Room 22 for grades 1-5.
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Tell Us What You Think
Island Park PTA is currently planning for the 2016-17 school year and we would love to have your input.
Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions on the survey regarding our PTA sponsored programs and events. We are interested in what programs/events you like and which ones you don't. We are also interested in input on programs that other schools in our district currently have that IP does not and your thoughts on those.
Thank you in advance for your time and helping to make Island Park great!
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PTA General Meeting Change
Please join us from 9:15-11am in the library on April 28th for our PTA General Meeting.
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Breakfast of Champions
April 26th, 7-8.30am
Don't miss the opportunity to hear awe-inspiring stories and experience the power of donor investment that has created a legacy of excellence on Mercer Island to meet the 21st century needs of every student!
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"Books and Bites" at Island Books
 to Benefit Northwood PTA
Come have a bite while you shop, mix, and mingle at Island Books with other future Northwood families, all while supporting your school. 20% of all purchases at Island Books on May 12th will benefit Northwood PTA.
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MERCER ISLAND LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND EVENTS
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MERCER ISLAND RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES
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MERCER ISLAND ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
Looking for sports or activities for your child? Check out Mercer Island Activities for Kids for a listing of the most recent activities!
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Northwest Boychoir
Make your appointment for September enrollment. Boys entering first to fourth grades in the fall are invited to audition on June 11th, or at a time convenient to you. We are celebrating more than 40 years of helping young people discover the joy of singing. More info here.
LEAP for GREEN Sustainable Fair: Saturday, April 16, 10am-2pm
Leap for Green is an interactive, sustainable fair, educating kids and families on ways to be sustainable with entertainment, music, animals, educational vendors and food!
Activities: Music w/ Nancy Stewart (11am), Storytime w/ MI Library (10:30am, 12pm), Bird Tour, Luther Burbank (1pm), The Bug Chef (12:30pm), Pacific Science Center Harvesting, Planting Project, Bunnies!
Food Trucks: BUNS Gourmet Burgers, The Peach & the Pig, Tacos LaFlaca
Vendors: Sustainable, educational organizations showing you how being green can be fun!
Engineering with LEGOŽ Summer Camps with Mercer Island Parks & Rec.
Kids are already naturally gifted creators. Then they get added inspiration from our specially trained instructors. They dive into our massive collections of LEGOŽ. And while they build elaborate objects, structures and vehicles, they explore fundamentals principles of engineering and physics. They also learn to collaborate and create without fear of mistakes. The experience is joyful, the impact long lasting. lasting.
Full summer camp schedule at Mercer Island Community Center here.
Welcome back to Island Hoop Camp!
The MI Boys Basketball Booster Club is thrilled to have Coach Cree and his staff back for six amazing summer camps for players entering grades 1-8 in Fall 2016. Most of the coaches are former Mercer Island players and coaches. Camper-to-coach ratio is typically 8:1 or less. Come out and learn to play Mercer Island basketball!
All Camps will be held at Mercer Island High School.
Dates, times, and eligibility information can be found in this document.
Music Works Northwest Camps
Students from ages 4 to 16 are invited to join us this summer at Music Works Northwest to learn, collaborate, make music, and have fun! We have camps for all ages and abilities, weekly from June 27th through August 19. Extended care is available for most sessions, as is financial aid. For more information and to register, you can visit http://www.musicworksnw.org/programs/summer-camps.html, email registration@musicworksnw.org, or call us at (425) 644-0988.
Sponge Summer Camps
Hola! Ni Hao! Summer will be here before you know it, and it's time to start getting camp plans in order - we're excited to offer language immersion camps in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. This year, we'll be exploring exotic destinations, cuisines, environments, and celebrations from around the globe. Our dynamic teachers will lead campers in crafts, games, cooking, science, drama, and outdoor play. It's an excellent opportunity to keep up language over the summer, or to try something totally new!
Week long camps will be offered at Bellevue Montessori School and the Parkside School in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, from June 20-July 22. Camps are open to K-2nd grade students, and run 9am-3pm. Aftercare is available until 5pm. For more information and to register for camp, visit us online . Contact us by email at info@spongeschool.com or give us a call at (425) 274-5188 with any questions. Register by April 15 and save up to $100 per student with early bird prices!!
Spring at Youth Theatre Northwest
April is just around the corner. If you're behind on planning your child's after school activities, YTN is here to save the day.
Spring Classes
For ages 3-5 & grades K-12. 25% new student discount.
Creative drama and acting classes develop imagination, build independent and critical thinking, nurture social growth and the ability to work with others, improve communication skills, increase knowledge of self, and provide a healthy release of emotions. This quarter's theme based classes will get your child up on their feet and challenge them to reach their full creative potential. Visit our website to review our full class offerings and register online.
Seattle Girls' Choir - Summer Music Day Camp For kids who love to sing and want to explore music. Two Sessions: July 18-22 and July 25-29 Full Day Camp 2nd - 5th Grade Girls 10:00 - 3:00 Sing In A Choir | Play Chimes Folk Dancing | Arts & Crafts | Instrumental Orff Ensemble Musical Mornings Girls & Boys 4 - 6 years old 9:30 - noon Musical Story Telling | Movement | Singing Games | Instrument Playing
Mercer Island High School Boys Soccer - Cheer On Your High School Team
The Mercer Island High School Boy's Soccer season is under way. Coach Colin Rigby's talented squad is pursing a league title and another state playoff berth. Come out, watch some outstanding soccer and support the team. You can find the team's game schedule here. Want to know more about MIHS Boys Soccer? Click here for information on the pathway to MIHS Boys Soccer.
Mercer Island Football Club
Mercer Island FC Recreational and Micro soccer registration are now open. Don't delay, do it today. In addition, Select tryouts start are scheduled for late April and early March. Check the club website for the exact date and time for your tryout. You can register for Micro soccer, Recreational soccer and Select tryouts here. With so much going on, it's time to wear your jersey to school and show your MIFC Club pride!
LEGO Summer Camps for the Serious Builder - By Bippity Bricks
Choose from "In a galaxy far, far away..." or "Tree house adventure".
These camps are great for kids who enjoy building a variety of challenging kits, want to explore how to do more interesting free building, and get ideas for how to play with what they've built. Towards the end of the week, participants will need to bring an iPad with the free app LEGO Movie Maker installed.
For more information contact Alice: 206 232 5147 or alice@bippitybricks.com
MIPA's 50th Annual Circus!
MIPA's 50th Annual Circus!
Sat, Apr 23, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Mercer Island High School
Calling all Toddlers, Preschoolers and Kindergartners! The Circus is on its way!
This event is a homespun circus on a grand scale that year after year draws young families region-wide for a day of fun and community gathering. You won't want to miss it!
Destination Science Camps
The fun science day camp for curious kids from 5-11. From roller coasters to robots, Destination Science provides a fun, safe and hands-on environment for exploration with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and next generation science standards. Choose from Roller Coaster Science, Robot Challenge Science, Space Quest Science, and Super Hero Physics Science Camps. Held at Northwest Yeshiva HS, Mercer Island (and other venues).
Soccer Camps
Mercer Island FC's Spring Soccer Academy and Get Ready for Select training clinics are now open for registration. Click here for information on the training clinics and how to register. SJCC Summer Camps
Whether you're a seasoned camp vet or this is your first time at the J, the 2016 campers are in for an amazing summer. The first step is finding the right camp for your kids. Camps are suitable for kids entering pre-K to 10th grade. Early registration discount (10%) applies to those registering by April 8.
Chess Club
The Chess4Life After School Chess Club is designed for students of any ability. Our Chess Clubs are taught by certified coaches who tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of the students of all ages. Learning and playing chess at school provides a host of benefits including improved memory, problem-solving skills, an enhanced ability to think ahead, and potential performance improvement in math and science. We strive to ensure that all of our students learn life, improve at chess, and have fun. Our programs promote fun, positive learning, valuable life skills that support academic learning and much more!
Call today for a FREE chess assessment (a $45 value) for our Premium Center Classes located in Bellevue, Redmond, Bothell, Renton and Issaquah.
Mercer Island Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts on Mercer Island is big! Our service unit is made up of over 30 troops of girls from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Learn more here: www.joinmigirlscouts.weebly.com.
Mercer Island Boy Scouts
Attention all parents of 5th grade boys. Is your son interested in adventure, leadership and serving your community? Has he ever thought about becoming an Eagle Scout? Does he like to have fun? Is he active? Mercer island Boy Scouts Troop 457 has provided these opportunities to boys since it began in 1953. Boy Scouts is open to all boys ages 11 & up with no prior scouting experience required. If you are thinking about joining or want more information, please view our website: www.Troop457.com or contact outreach coordinator, Karen LeMaster at klemaster@comcast.net or scoutmaster, Dan Hanson at danhanson@troop457.com
Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Classes
The Parks & Recreation Department's Spring/Summer recreation guide is available to preview now!
Online Registration begins 3/14 and in person or by phone on 3/16. 275-7609.
Kids Co. - Before and After School Care
Kids Co.'s before and after-school programming is designed to meet the particular needs kids have during the non-school hours. Please feel free to contact Jamie Glennon, Program Manager at 206-437-8396 or visit http://www.kidscompany.org/locations/mercer-island.
Seattle Children's Theatre
2015-2016 Season and Drama School
With an emphasis on imagination, humor, creativity and empathy, Seattle Children's Theatre (SCT) once again demonstrates its commitment to excellence in theatre for young audiences with the announcement of its 41st season. Subscriptions now on sale for the 2015-2016 Season.
Island Park Elementary (IPE) PTA and the Mercer Island School District have neither reviewed nor approved the programs, personnel, activities or organizations announced in these flyers or websites. The participants agree to protect, indemnify, and hold harmless the district and IPE PTA, including elected and appointed officials, employees, agents, staff and volunteers, from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, expenses, or rights of action, directly or indirectly attributed to the activities. Permission to distribute this information and or flyers should not be considered a recommendation of the programs by the school district or by the IPE PTA. These are neither school district nor IPE PTA sponsored activities.
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Mercer Island School District
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Island Park PTA
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